Reagan National Airport Mid-air Collision

[OkieMoe]

I read Eaves was a supervisor pilot and there was an unnamed jr female pilot. And the 3rd person was a crew chief or something, don't recall his name. I don't understand why there is or was a delay in releasing their names. I've got to think that the pentagon probably has the resources to notify next of kin pretty quickly.

This is the info I have seen as well and ALL three of they with plenty of air time.

 

[OK Corgi Rancher]

There's newer, clearer video of the collision. It looks like the CRJ is just leveling out after a left turn. If that's the case, it would've made seeing to the right even more difficult. The BH never waivered at all in it's path from what I can see. Appeared to be flying straight and level.

 

[OKRuss]

The black boxes will indicate any control inputs.

I think I saw where the BH doesn't have a voice recorder. Of course, that could be wrong given the amount of disinformation going around these days.

 

[SoonerP226]

I think I saw where the BH doesn't have a voice recorder. Of course, that could be wrong given the amount of disinformation going around these days.

It may not have a voice recorder, but I can almost guarantee that it has a flight data recorder. The military absolutely wants to know why a bird went down when it happens.

 

[OK Corgi Rancher]

I think I saw where the BH doesn't have a voice recorder. Of course, that could be wrong given the amount of disinformation going around these days.

I believe you're right about that. I was referring to the CRJ but didn't make that clear.

 

[OKRuss]

I believe you're right about that. I was referring to the CRJ but didn't make that clear.

All good! I saw plural 'boxes' but I'm sure they have all the recordings between the control tower. I think we know obviously why it went down but would like to know if speed picked up or any evasive maneuver before impact or if something mechanical prevented the crew from changing course. So many unknowns and when we're told what the government wants us to hear, most will likely not agree and figure a coverup of some sorts. Let's see who pays for all of the upcoming law suits!

 

[Decoligny]

How is the media blaming President Trump any different than you or President Trump blaming DEI?

If DEI resulted in lesser qualified personnel being hired as Air Traffic Controllers due to them being one of the “special classes” required to make sure there were enough LGBTQXVDPGW or minority people to adequately represent, then DEI could have been a factor.
Hiring needs to be 100% based on qualifications, not social constructs.

 

[FlyGuyGSP]

If DEI resulted in lesser qualified personnel being hired as Air Traffic Controllers due to them being one of the “special classes” required to make sure there were enough LGBTQXVDPGW or minority people to adequately represent, then DEI could have been a factor.
Hiring needs to be 100% based on qualifications, not social constructs.

When tragedy strikes, society should grieve and investigations should begin.

That’s all that is needed and productive at this point.

Instead, we birth hate, conspiracies and conduct which hunts. Why? If it’s DEI, then an investigation will prove that to be true. What if it’s not DEI and random innocents are slandered and attacked (wrongly accused of being the pilot or ATC). Doesn’t that seem irresponsible?

 

[Rez Exelon]

When tragedy strikes, society should grieve and investigations should begin.

That’s all that is needed and productive at this point.

Instead, we birth hate, conspiracies and conduct which hunts. Why? If it’s DEI, then an investigation will prove that to be true. What if it’s not DEI and random innocents are slandered and attacked (wrongly accused of being a pilot or ATC). Doesn’t that seem irresponsible?

Ever since Reagan the only solution to any of our problems has been to give money to the top 1% and find some class of people to blame. There is no trust in investigations, no belief in the common good, no anything other that "my team your team" division mentality. And in that world, no one CARES about the results of an investigation...that world demands blood and demands it quickly. I know several members on this board are likely to have much greater insight into this stuff than others given their life experiences or careers, and they sure aren't the vocal ones, but all the armchair QB's and bloodthirsty types are super keen to jump in.

 

[user 43847]

Yeah you’re probably right. But how is it “beyond absurd” to consider the possibility of someone being mentally unstable and intentionally doing something crazy?

I’m sure we’ll learn more as all the info comes out. Lots of politically motivated lies all over the internet after any tragic event…

Condolences to the families.

It’s beyond absurd because even if someone was mentally unstable, it would be HIGHLY unlikely a helicopter could intentionally fly into a moving airplane. You would have to know the speed of the airplane, your speed, and plot intercepting courses. This isn’t flying a plane into a static building.

Neither plane nor helicopter seem to react at all before impact. Understand the helicopter if they didn't see the plane. But would the plane not see the helicopter at least a few seconds before? I know it's not a fighter jet and the plane might not have physics-wise been able to do anything, but just curious if there was any evidence that the plane reacted in any way?

That close to the runway, the CRJ pilots would have been almost totally focused on the runway in front of them, not looking for other traffic. They were performing a circling maneuver, meaning they flew an approach lined up for one runway, but then had to visually circle to line up with another runway. When performing visual approaches, we use instrument approach data as a backup to help with maintaining an adequate descent rate, but on a circle, your instruments are not set up for the runway you are circling to…they are set up for the runway you were initially lined up with. So during a circle you have to be even more on your game, especially going into a short runway like DCA. If you land too long or too fast, you end up in the Potomac at the other end of the runway. Point being they were likely focused on the runway, not other traffic.